The Alliance Board of Directors at their recent meeting in Birmingham, Ala.
Around the Alliance
Surprised by Joy: A Report from the Board of Directors
The word "joy" is not often found in a report of three long days of board meetings. As you can see, however, it's in the title of this summary of the fall meeting of the Alliance Board of Directors.
The board met at Baptist Church of the Covenant in Birmingham, Ala., September 26-28 to further the work of the Alliance, focusing primarily on our shared goal of becoming an anti-racist organization. "It was a critical moment for the Board of Directors," said president Michael-Ray Mathews. "We deepened our commitment to pointing the Alliance in the direction of becoming an anti-racist organization devoted to racial equity and healing in every aspect of our shared life and
This past June I had the opportunity to
travel to Tbilisi, Georgia, with a delegation from the Alliance of Baptists to meet with Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili. The bishop had recently spoken at my home church, Broadway Baptist in Fort Worth, TX, and after describing the ways in which the Yazidi people are continuously targeted for genocide by the Islamic State, he threw down a challenge which rocked me to my heels by saying, "You need to come and meet these brave people and hear their stories for yourself."
I was thrilled at this opportunity to meet with the bishop again. What I wasn't thrilled about was coming face to face with these brave people whose stories I knew would be difficult to listen to and absorb. But I did go, I did listen, and everything I learned was riveting.
While the Alliance of Baptists' board of directors was meeting Sept. 26-28, our nation's Administration continued on its trajectory of turning its back on refugees seeking safety, shelter and hope with the announcement of the lowest cap on refugee resettlement in recent history. Heartbroken and devastated by the announcement, the board released a statement condemning "..in the strongest terms the Administration's recent decision on moral and biblical grounds."
Simultaneous to the announcement, the church universal was preparing for the celebration of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Observed annually on Sept. 29 since 2014, the emphasis is an occasion for the church to express concern for many different vulnerable people on the move, to pray for the challenges, and to increase awareness about the opportunities that migration offers.
Read what the Alliance leadership says about the importance of our solidarity with refugees. And hear what the leader of the world's largest church has to say about our relationship with migrants and refugees. It's not just about migrants; It's also about our fears.
Hurricane Dorian Recovery
During October the Alliance staff and board of directors challenge individual and congregational partners to join in raising relief funds for families and communities living in the Bahamas devastated by Hurricane Dorian.
Funds will be distributed by ministries closest to the most vulnerable populations, including the Progressive National Baptist Convention whose president resides in Nassau.
Learn more.
Ministry opportunities come in many forms in Alliance life! We list a variety of ministry position openings and volunteer opportunities from our partners.
Join more than 15,000 Christians in standing up against Christian nationalism: Learn more and sign the statement at
BJConline.
MALT
Clergy Gathering 2020
Save the Date
January 16-18, 2020
St. Charles Ave. Baptist Church
7100 St. Charles Ave. Baptist Church, New Orleans, LA
Paula Clayton Dempsey attending Erica Saunders' installation, Peace Community Church, Oberlin, OH
October 9-16
Paula Clayton Dempsey in Cuba for and ordination and church visits
October 10-12
Carole Collins meeting with Board task group on Racial Justice
Charlotte, NC
October 23-24
Carole Collins at meeting of Church World Service, Washington, DC
The Alliance of Baptists is a vibrant movement of people, faith communities and ministry partners who are deeply passionate about ecumenism, partnership in mission, relentless hospitality and social justice.
travel to Tbilisi, Georgia, with a delegation from the Alliance of Baptists to meet with Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili. The bishop had recently spoken at my home church, Broadway Baptist in Fort Worth, TX, and after describing the ways in which the Yazidi people are continuously targeted for genocide by the Islamic State, he threw down a challenge which rocked me to my heels by saying, "You need to come and meet these brave people and hear their stories for yourself."
